This isn’t for everyone, I’ll admit that at the outset.
For years, I’ve wanted to read The Divine Comedy by Dante. It is one of the classics of Christian literature, a poem about Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, told in one hundred short cantos (short poetic chapters). Come with Dante as he descends into hell and then goes through purgatory, and ascends into heaven. I don’t even believe in purgatory, but I’ve wanted to understand this story because it sorts through the ancient view of hell, sacramental Christianity, and a lot of ancient mythology.
The problem is, these cantos are very difficult to understand with many historical and mythological references that I don’t have time to chase down. However, Baylor University Honors College has just begun a study of The Divine Comedy, called 100 Days of Dante. It is billed as the world’s largest reading group (no, not impressed by that) and covers three cantos each week along with a 7-10 minute reflection by a professor about what’s going on in the poem. It is and started last week and will continue until Easter. Sign up with your email and each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday they will send you a link to read the assigned Canto online as well as a link to a brief reflection on what Dante is communicating to the reader. You don’t even have to buy the book.
I have tried it for a week and a half and I am loving it! So, if you want an intellectual challenge this fall, and want to walk through the Divine Comedy with me, join in. Yes, you do have a bit of catching up to do, but it won’t take long and it may be worth it. Each day they send the email, I read the assigned canto trying to grasp what I can, and then read a synopsis and an analysis on LitCharts.com. That really helps. Finally, I listen to the reflections offered by a college professor who loves this story. This is really well done and worth your time if you’ve ever wanted to explore this classic piece of Christian literature.
As I said, it is not for everybody, but for those who have wanted to read this classic, this is probably the best way to do it. Now, if someone will only do 100 days of Paradise Lost by Milton. Again, more poetry.
Read it 48 years ago and it still resonates. You are so right about the historical connections and complexity. Your post reminds me that I need to read it again.
This looks fascinating! I wish I had more time to invest in this, but thanks for the link.
This is probably the only way I would have ever gotten through Dante’s Divine Comedy. And I’m sure the resources will remain up after for people who can’t do it now.